Perry a



P. A. GUMP. FENCE POST.

No. 581,676. Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

w/r/msm. Ji /M 1 INVENTOI? %%mdw BY W 2 Z; ATTORNEY.

UNTTnn STaTns PATENT OFFICE.

PERRY A. GUMP, OF IIUN'UERTOlVN, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-IIALF TO JOHN E. IIOUCK, OF SAME PLACE.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 581,676, dated April 27, 1897.

Application filed January 23,1897. $erial No. 620,320. No model.)

To (LZZ 1071/0772, it TH/(LZ/ concern.-

Be it known that I, PERRY A. GUMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntertown, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apro pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in [5 fence-posts wherein a metallic post is rigidly mounted upon a base composed of a solidi- ;fied earthen substance by means of suitable braces; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a fence-post which will withstand the stresses and strains usually brought upon structures of this nature; second, to provide a post which will withstand decomposition, and, third, to facilitate securing the wires of the fence to the posts. I at tain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing the device as it appears with all parts assembled.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the base-plate. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the post, showing one form of fastening the fence-wires. Fig. 4. is an elevation showing another form of fastenings for the fence-wires. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the same in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 4.

The numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

My invention, although applicable to various forms of fences, is more particularly designed for fences constructed of wire, including woven fences and also slats interwoven with wire.

The base 5 is constructed of a combination of sand and Portland cement or of clay,which is solidified in any well-known manner, or the said base may be made of any other suitable earthen substance. It may be either cylin- 5o drical or rectangular in form and is provided with a transverse groove at its bottom.

The base-plate 1 is constructed of cast metal and is made of a form corresponding with the top of said base 5. The said plate is provided with two projecting ears 2, diametrically op posite each other, the respective lugs having semicircular indentations 2, which are adapted to receive and retain the brace U. The said plate is also provided with an integral angle-iron 3, which projects sufficiently above the surface of said plate to afford a suitable fastening for the lower end of the post 4:. The flange 21 extends downward from the perimeter of said plate and is adapted to fit over the upper end of the base 5.

The post proper,4, is preferably constructed of an gle-iron, the lower end of which is bolted or secured by other suitable means to the angle-iron 3 of the base-plate. Upon the upper end of the post 4 is mounted the top 9, which consists of a casting having lateral perforated projecting lugs 11. This casting may be of an ornamental design, which will add to the appearance of the post.

The braces 6 and 7 are constructed of metallic rods. The former extends from one of the lugs of the top 9 downward, bridging over one of the lugs 2 of the base-plate and passin g around the lower end of the-base 5, thence upward on the opposite side of said base, and terminating a small distance above the lug 2 of said base-plate. An eye 8 is formed in the terminus of said brace 6, into which is linked the lower end of the brace 7, thus forming a hinged connection between said braces.

The upper ends of the respective braces are externally screw-threaded and are adapted to pass through the perforated lugs 11 of the top 9. These braces are then drawn taut by means of suitable nuts 10, which are driven onto the screw-threaded ends of said braces, which consequently draws the top 9 forcibly downward upon the top of the post a, which has the effect of forcing the said post and base-plate against the top of the base 5, and 5 thus the said base and metallic structure are held rigidly together.

I have shown two methods of securing the wires of the fence to the post, the former of which is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this construction a piece of wood 12 is secured in the angle-iron post 4 by means of screws or in any other convenient way, and to the wood are secured the wires 13 by means of staples 14. The other method is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. This construction consists of a vertical metallic bar 15, which is secured to one of the wings of the angle-iron post 4 by means of bolts 16. By placing washers 17 on the bolts 16, between the post 4 and the bar 15, sufficient clearance is effected to allow the insertion of the ends of the clips 18, which should work freely. The clips 18 consist of semicircular pieces of metal having perforated ends. These perforations are adapted to register with perforations 20 in the post 4 and bar 15. The said clip is held in place by means of split keys 19, which pass through said perforations and clench on the opposite side. The hollows of the clips 18 extend out from the post 4 sufficiently to allow the wires 13 to pass through.

It will be seen by this construction that in the fence,whether plain-wire strands or woven fencing is used, the fastening may be easily effected by removing the brace 7 and removing the upper split keys of the clips 18 and allowing them to turn downward sufficiently to insert the wires in the fence and again returning them to their normal position and resecuring them in place.

The post may be used for the corner of the fence by substituting ratchet-reels for the clips 18 and by bracing said post in any usual manner, and may be materially strengthened by constructing the same with three sides instead of two, as shown in Fig. 3.

A fence built on posts of the construction described may be readily lined up by tightening up one of the nuts 10 and loosening the one on the opposite side of the top, or vice versa. This will cause the post to tilt toward the direction desired.

The base of the post thus constructed being of a durable material is notsubjected to rot, corrosion or other forms of decomposition, and the weight of the base forms a substantial foundation for the iron structure.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a fence-post, the combination of the solidified earthen base; the base-plate 1 the said base-plate having lateral projecting ears, and the projecting angle-iron 3; the anglepost 4 sec ured to said angle-iron 3; the top 9 having lateral perforated lugs 11; the brace 6 extending from the top 9 downward over the lug 2 of the base-plate 1 and under the base 5, and forming a hinged connection with the brace 7 the brace 7 extending from its hinged connection with the brace 6- to the aforesaid top; means in connection with said braces for tightening the same; and means for securing the wires of the fence to the post 4, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERRY A. GUMP.

lVitnesses:

J OHN E. HOUCK, MAUDE X. RHOADES. 

